The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-05
Liuae. street Christisn church.

Linden Street Christian Church.
The Rev. Mr.. Briney preached as
follows:
When Jesus was In Bethany, in the
house Of Simon the leper, there came
q woman having an alsbsster box OF
ointment OF spikensrd, which she
poured on bis head. Some OF those
present regarded such use Of this
costly ointment as wasteiulness, and |
rebuked the woman. The Savior,
however, indicated her, and passed |
upon her very high encomium:
"She has done what she could" This
Is the highest praise that can be
bestowed upon human being, and 1t |
Is praise that every one may merit.
This epigrammatic statement contains
the measure OF all human responsi-
bility. 1t is required OF q man accord.
ing to what he hath, and net according
to what he hath not. Where much Is
given much 10 required, and where
little Is given little la required. Hu.
man ability 10 the measure OF human
responsibility. More than this God
does not demsnd; less than this man
should not expect. Bat let us enter
somewhat into particulars.
/. In this B BILE land OF ours every
one can obey the gospel OF Jesus Christ,
and this Is demanded OF every one.
After the Lords triumph over death
and the grave he said: $50 ye into
all the world and preach tho gospel to
every creature. He that bslisveth
and is baptized shall be saved but he
that belieyeth not shall bs damned"
This language is authoritative and
wei9hty, and should be needed by all
those who hear Ii. Thee are the
Lords words, and / believe every one
OF them-believe them az implicitly
ss | would or could II they were TO be
repeated afresh this day from on high.
Surely no one will 80 unman himself
as to say that he cannot comply with
these requirements. Every one has
the Go1.given ability to obey this
gospel, aud hence the responsibility
for dibobedience rests upon him who
fails to obey; and that responsibility
he must meet in eternity, and
that, to,, In view OF this In.
epired declaration: sand to you
who ara sfil cted rest with us, at
the revelation OF the Lord Jesus from
Heaven with angels OF his power, in
fsming fire taking vengeance on them
that know not God and on them tast
obey not the gospel OF our Lord Jesus I;
who will suffer punishment, everlast-
ing destruction from the presence OF
the Lord, and from the glory OF His
strength" These are words OF truth
and toberness, and they are worthy Of
all acceptation. OF one who does not
obey the gospel, II cannot and will
not be said, He has done what he
could"
2. The same principle prevails
among Christians In the support OF
the gospel. We are TO honor the Lord
with our substance, and we are TO do
this proportionately 10 our several
abilities. la this regard the Lord re-
quires nothing beyond ability, but His
requirement reaches to tho full extent
Of our ability, whether this be great
or small. The scriptures clearly teach
that he who can give but little for the
support Of Gods cause is Just as re-
sponsible for that little as Is he who IL
able 10 do much. And per contra he
who comes mp 10 the measure OF his
ability In his gifts, though the amount
be but little, Ia blessed az much as he
who, In reaching the measure OF his
ability, can make large offerings. The
Lord regards the disposition that
prompts the offerings more than the
siEe OF the gifts. He that Is unfaith.
iul In little would alD bs uniaithful
In much, and Ia az blsmeworthy az II
his ability were greater; while he that
IL faithful In little would also be faith.
iul In much, and IL as praieeworthy a.
II his pifte were larger. Tho Savior
emphasized this principle In what he
said Of the poor widow who put her
two mites into the L9rd'e treasury
"She has put in more" said the Mas.
ter, "than all those who put into the
treasury" They, OF their abundance,
put In much, but che put In all che
bad, and although her call" was In.
trinsically Insignificant, yet In the eye
Of Him Who sees the heart II was the
largest gift that was consecrated 10 the
Lord. "She did what she could" and
that Ia oil that airy can do.
3 The same equitable rule spplies
10 Gods people In carrying on Hit
work and In conducting the internal
afiAlrs Of His church. Everyone who
enters tho church OF the living God
does 20 under solemn obligation 10
do whatever he can 10 further In In.
,eres's. 100 work today In nv vine
ya'd," Ia heavens Lehest. God In.
vltfs no oilers into Ills kingdom,
There Ia work Tor every hand 10 do
and the work that each II 10 do II de
termlnsd bV bls ability and oppor
unity, and ~ 20 be dona m 10 the
L1rd, and not 10 men. He who works
In the church timply 10 please men
bad better be asleep. Work In the
church rests upon the basis OF obllgs
ton 10 God, and no one can 10 he.
yond his obligation In this matter, fol
every ons IL obligated 10 do all bt
can, ard ~ long m one can do more
his obligation Ia not discharged. "sh'
has done EhA, she could" IL the
standard.
The church Of Christ Ia not q mon,
eyed corporation. II has no income
I, Ia ont 30 all the time, and no In
come II does not conduct iis afsir'
10 make money, bat 10 serve God and
DO good In the world. Hence, every
one must put his hand n the plor
and do Whist he can. This 10 ths
meanIng Of Christian fellowship. 0n'
hiss ability 10 serve In the church ~
an elder, another an q deacon, another
AZ q teacher In the Sunday school,
another In the service n song, another
H. public prayer. another In public
ard private srhortAtion. etc, eact
dbi5g the work Of tho Lord In The
spAere 10 which his gifts adapt him
1t Il he remsmbersd that the Lore
demands the fpt and tho best ioi
himself The rest IL ours 10 use for
ourselves, or pell for our own benefit
And even this IL sanc,ihel by the frs
fruits that have heed offered 10 God
Let n be forever remembered tha